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Kansas City’s Nature Centers

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In March 2025, Halley Zitterkopf, Digital Engagement Manager for KC Parent updated this article to include the latest information on these nature centers and added must-sees.

Looking for fun and affordable outings with your kids? Our ultimate nature center guide has you covered! From free activities and animal adventures, discover dozens of ways to enjoy an inexpensive day with your children.

Burr Oak Woods 7:00-6:00 Tues-Fri, 8:00-5:00 Sat. (1401 NW Park Rd, Blue Springs, MO). Aquarium, animal exhibits, hands-on activities and trails. Must-See: The indoor aquarium and reptile exhibits-perfect for kids!

Cave Spring Nature Center 10-4:00 Tues- Fri, (8701 E Gregory Blvd, KCMO). Enjoy this nature center, historic site, park & trails. Must-See: The historic wagon trail and cave that once sheltered pioneers.

Anita Gorman Discovery Center near the Plaza has an outdoor play area, weekly Little Acorns nature classes, and an indoor area. Must-See: The Little Acorns nature classes for toddlers & interactive indoor exhibits.

Ernie Miller Nature Center 9:00-5:00 Mon-Sat, 1:00-5:00 Sun. (909 N. Hwy 7, Olathe, KS). Live animals, displays, hands-on activities and nature trails. Must-See: The live owl and snake exhibits, plus nature trails with scenic views.

George Owens Nature Park 8:30-5:00 Tues-Sat, Noon-5:00 Sun. (1601 S. Speck Rd. Independence, MO). Nature center, programs for children, fishing dock, and trails. Must-See: The Storybook Trail, where pages of a giant children’s book guide your walk.

John Barkley Visitor Center 9:00-5:00 Mon-Fri, 10:00-6:00 Sat & Sun. (7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee KS). Local and national parks exhibits, fishing, and trails. Must-See: The floor-to-ceiling interactive exhibits on local wildlife and conservation.

Kemper Outdoor Ed. Ctr. 8:00-4:00 Mon-Fri (May 1- Aug 1), 12:00-4:00 1st Sun of each month. (8201 Jasper Bell, Blue Springs, MO). Reptile displays, rock and fossil exhibits, trails, butterfly and water gardens, an arboretum, pond, and more. Must-See: The rock and fossil exhibit showcasing ancient Kansas geology.

Lakeside Nature Center 9:00-4:00 Tues-Sat, CLOSED Sun & Mon. (4701 E. Gregory Blvd, KCMO). Live animals, displays, hands-on activities and nature trails. Must-See: The live eagle and hawk rehabilitation area, plus rescued native wildlife.

Prairie Oak Nature Center 10:00-5:00 Mon-Sat, 1:00-5:00 Sun. (14701 Mission Rd, Leawood KS). Live animals, displays, hands-on activities and nature trails. Must-See: The hands-on reptile exhibit featuring turtles and snakes.

Martha Lafite Thompson Nat. Ctr 8:00-5:00 Mon-Sat, (407 N. Lafrenz Rd., Liberty, MO). Nature displays featuring plants and animals, and nature trails. Must-See: The butterfly garden, filled with native plants attracting colorful pollinators in the summer.

Overland Park Arboretum 8:00-7:30 Daily, (8909 W. 179th St, OPKS). Botanical gardens, natural ecosystems, environmental education center, and trails. Must-See: The fairy garden and Monet-style bridge, perfect for photo ops!

Parkville Nature Sanctuary Daylight Hours Daily (12th and East Streets, Parkville, MO). Wildlife preserve and education site featuring hiking trails. Must-See: The serene waterfall tucked along the hiking trails.

Prairie Park Nature Center Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; it is closed on Mondays. (Lawrence, KS). A wildlife sanctuary featuring nature trails, hands-on exhibits, and live native animals, offering a fun and educational outdoor experience for all ages. Must-See: The resident bobcats and birds of prey, up-close encounters!

Best of February

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February may be the shortest month, but it’s brimming with opportunities to make unforgettable memories with your family! From celebrating love and friendship on Valentine’s Day to finding fun ways to beat the winter blues, Kansas City has no shortage of activities to keep the whole family entertained.

Plus, with the Chiefs heading to the Super Bowl, there’s an extra layer of excitement in the air! Whether you’re planning a watch party, stocking up on game-day gear, or just soaking in the city’s electric energy, it’s the perfect time to rally behind our team.

Whether you’re looking for cozy indoor adventures, unique winter festivals, or early signs of spring, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Check out our top picks for the best things to do in KC this February!

Best Kansas City Parks for Sledding

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Celebrate your snow day at a prime sledding spot.

Brookside Park, 200 E. 57th St., Kansas City, Mo.-This beloved park boasts Kansas City’s most famous sledding hill. Formerly nicknamed “Suicide Hill” and now more commonly called “Brookside Hill,” this slope has thrilled generations of sledders. The steep, wide incline provides ample space for winter fun. The park also contains gentler slopes that are perfect for younger children.

Westwood Park, 47th St. & Wyoming St., Kansas City, Mo.-Locals frequent Westwood Park’s playground and baseball diamond during the warmer months, but the place truly comes alive in winter. The park contains a sledding hill that’s a timeless favorite for many Kansas Citians, but isn’t as daunting as Brookside Hill. While you’re there, make sure to snap a picture by the park’s iconic giant chair.

Keystone Park, 2214 SW Keystone Dr., Blue Springs-According to the City of Blue Springs, Keystone Park is “the place to be when it snows!” Adults and children alike will love zipping down the town’s biggest sledding hill. The terrain includes both slight and steep slopes, ensuring a good time for all ages.

Stump Park, 4751 Woodland Dr., Shawnee-In addition to its playground and sports fields, Stump Park has two hills that are ideal for sledding. Younger kids will have a blast on the smaller incline while older ones speed down the larger slope. You may encounter a few bumps, but there is plenty of room to avoid collisions.

Wyandotte County Lake Park, Leavenworth Rd. & N. 91st St., Kansas City, Kan.-Whether you prefer steep grades or gentle hills, you’ll have plenty of sledding areas to pick from at Wyandotte’s beautiful park. The 1,500-acre landscape offers abundant room for sledding, making snow angels and enjoying snowball fights. You can also let your dogs play in the off-leash area.

Anna Hiestand resides in Blue Springs with her family. She has a passion for writing, art and cinema.

Luminary Walk

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Do you love nature? Do you love Christmas lights? Then the Luminary walk at the Overland Park Arboretum is the perfect outing for you! Gather your family and friends and make a night of it!

The new LongHouse Visitor Center is where we began our journey. The lights reflecting off the water of the pond set the scene for how our night would be. We walked in to the warmth and handed the attendants our tickets.  They had glow in the dark and light up accessories available for purchase. A fun way for you to be part of the lights.  Jack Stack Catering and Storia Cater also have food and drinks available for purchase.  All of this before we even stepped back outside to see the lights!

Once outside you are greeted with multiple reflecting pools that glisten with the lights and the sound of live instruments playing. Throughout your walk you will come across different stations with live music. Have a seat, warm up by the heaters and enjoy the music! Check the website to see the schedule for the live performances. You will also come across family picture set up scenes. Snag a selfie, or have one of the volunteers stationed there take a picture for you.

After you warm up, continue your walk to the train depot area. There is a lightcicle covered caboose you can climb onto and overlook the model train Christmas displays. There is another chance to purchase food and drink in this area as well.

Once you are back on the walking path you can warm up by a small fire, then run through the light tunnel! Careful, the height decreases as you go through. There are bathrooms located in this area. From there you follow the lights to a firepit filled with the sound of Christmas carols and the smell of Louisburg apple Cider.  Enjoy complimentary hot or cold cider served by local scouts while singing carols.

Since you no longer have a voice, head up to the scenic overlook to see the lights from above. Next comes the candle lit walk. You can take the bypass or the path that is ¼ mile.  This was my favorite part! They ask that you are quiet on this path while walking through the woods by candle light with the snow glistening.   Even the littles enjoyed that!  This led us out by the old entrance. From here you can go look at the gnome and fairy villages, snap a picture with Santa (he heads back to the North Pole at 8:30) or walk around the lake to head back to the LongHouse Visitor Center. We loved this walk and want to go visit again!

You can enjoy this wonderful walk Dec 6th, 7th, 13th or 14th. They also have a week night walk through the electric gardens, but with no Santa, candlelit woods, musicians, cider, or trains. It opens at 5pm, last entrance is 8pm and the lights shut off at 9pm.  Dress for the weather! Though there are many warming stations throughout, the majority of your time will be spent walking.  We were there for 90 minutes and I don’t think that was long enough for our group. For tickets or FAQ visit https://www.showclix.com/tickets/luminarywalk2024

Halie Campain lives in Overland Park with her husband and 3 children.  She enjoys trying new things to create lasting memories for her children. The Campain family wishes you all a Merry Christmas!

Fabulous Fall Hikes

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Pack a picnic, take a hike, and enjoy the fall foliage at one of these local sites.

Burr Oak Woods Conservation Center (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs): In addition to a beautiful nature center with hands-on exhibits, the area is home to miles of beautiful trails for walking or bicycling.

Cave Spring Nature Center (8701 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, Mo.): This small nature center has historical exhibits and beautiful scenic walking trails.

Ernie Miller Nature Center (909 North, KS-7, Olathe): This center offers children’s activities and programs, live animal displays, and the chance to participate in hands-on activities and explore nature trails.

F.L. Schlagle Nature Library (4051 West Dr, Kansas City, Kan.): This year-round interactive library, nature center, and nature trail offer scientific, educational, cultural, informational, and recreational opportunities.

George Owens Nature Park (1601 Speck Rd, Independence): Enjoy a small nature center, programs for children, a fishing dock, and trails.

Kill Creek Park (11670 Homestead Lane, Olathe): The 897-acre park features a lake, over 12 miles of hiking, mountain bike and equestrian trails, and also includes 1.5 miles of paved trails. The highlight of the park is the Russell and Helen Means Observation Tower offering beautiful views of the park and prairie.

Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, Mo.): See falcons, owls, eagles, toads and exhibits. The nature center also features a gravel trail for walking and exploring.

Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (8909 W 179th St, Overland Park): The gardens offer nearly six miles of paved and wood chip hiking trails offering a scenic and peaceful autumn escape for city-dwellers.

Parkville Nature Sanctuary (100 E 12 St, Parkville): Wildlife preserve and education site featuring hiking trails.

Powell Gardens (1609 NW US Hwy 50, Kingsville, Mo.): The beautiful botanical gardens are always magnificent, but the woodland trails are especially beautiful in the fall.  Mark your calendar for Dark Forest, offered October 18’19, 24’26, 31; and November 1’2. Presented in partnership with Quixotic, Powell Gardens ushers in fall with Dark Forest, an immersive multimedia walk-through experience in the woods. 

Shawnee Mission Park (7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee Mission, Kan.): John Barkley Plaza offers parking and a shaded meet-up spot at the entrance. In the park, you’ll find a fishing dock and extensive trails.

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks

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November means outdoor ice-skating season in Kansas City!

Crown Center Ice Terrace

2425 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO

The Ice Terrace opens for the 2024 season on Nov. 1, with free skating from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. Enjoy public skating daily. During the holiday season, the rink overlooks the Mayor’s Christmas Tree.

A Day of Shopping and Skating

The Rink at Zona Rosa: 8731 N. Stoddard Ave., Kansas City, MO

The Ice at Park Place: 11549 Ash St., Leawood, KS

Along with ice-skating, enjoy shopping from local and national retailers and dining at an eclectic mix of restaurant options.

Pickleball and Skating

Chicken N Pickle Overland Park: 5901 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS

Chicken N Pickle offers affordable fun on their Ice Pond all season long. Check their calendar for family skates, character skates and holiday skate parties. Chicken N Pickle is also the place to gather on game day. Check out their Sunday Brunch Buffet & Singo, where parents can watch the game, kids can play in the game yard and everyone can enjoy brunch and bingo.

Two Friendly Neighborhood Hangouts

The Rink: 214 S. Washington St., Raymore, MO

Summit Ice: 120 NE Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO

Raymore’s small outdoor rink is a fun neighborhood gathering space with affordable skate rentals and season passes. Summit Ice is another great hangout offering skating lessons, pond hockey, curling and broomball in addition to ice-skating.

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